| CONTACT: |
Jeff Kelley,
(312) 353-1159 |
| For Immediate
Release |
No. 01-OPA144 |
|
DRAFT OF U.S. EPA REVIEW OF
OHIO ENFORCEMENT PROGRAM SENT TO STATE
CHICAGO (Aug. 31, 2001) -- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Region 5 today sent to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and
the Ohio Attorney General a draft of its review of Ohio
environmental programs. The draft report was prepared in response to
a petition submitted on behalf of Ohio Citizen Action, the Ohio
Sierra Club, the Ohio Environmental Council (subsequently replaced
by the Ohio Public Interest Research Group) and Rivers
Unlimited.
The report describes U.S. EPA's preliminary conclusions based on
investigations which began in January 2000. Specifically, the report
looks at the state's administration of the federal Resource
Conservation and Recovery, Clean Water and Clean Air Acts. The
review also looks at Ohio's legal environmental enforcement offices
and criminal enforcement program.
U.S. EPA has asked the state to review the draft document and
provide comments within 30 days.
Public release of the draft report will take place Tuesday
afternoon, September 4. After providing the public at least 30 days
to review the report, the U.S. EPA will hold an availability session
in Columbus, Ohio. That will be followed by a 30-day comment period,
after which the report will be finalized. Details about the session
will be forthcoming.
Attached is the letter that
accompanied the draft report sent to Ohio.(PDF, 145K)
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